'It Will Be a Disgrace': Pope Francis Slams Trump's Plans of Large-Scale Deportation Raids

Pope Francis has criticised US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation of immigrants, describing the plan as a “disgrace.”

Speaking in an interview on the Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa on Sunday, the pontiff denounced the approach, stating,

“If true, this will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the problem. This won’t do! This is not the way to solve things. That’s not how things are resolved.”

Trump, who is set to be inaugurated on Monday, has made mass deportations a key part of his campaign and has pledged to implement executive orders on immigration policy on his first day in office.

His administration’s stance has drawn sharp criticism from Catholic leaders, including Pope Francis, who has consistently advocated for the rights and dignity of migrants.

The Pope, the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, has often highlighted the struggles of migrants, drawing from his personal history as the grandson of Italian immigrants to Argentina.

In his new autobiography Hope, he recalled how his paternal grandparents and father had planned to migrate to Argentina in 1927 aboard the Principessa Mafalda, which tragically sank with many lives lost. They ultimately made a later crossing, an experience that has shaped his commitment to migrant advocacy.

Francis’ criticism of Trump’s immigration policies is not new. During Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016, the Pope commented on the then-candidate’s proposed US-Mexico border wall, stating, “Anyone who builds a wall to keep out migrants is not Christian.”

The remarks sparked widespread debate, further intensifying discussions on immigration within the United States.

In addition to the Pope’s comments, several US bishops have also expressed opposition to Trump’s deportation plans. Cardinal Robert McElroy, the incoming Archbishop of Washington D.C., has stated that such policies are “incompatible with Catholic doctrine,” referencing the Biblical directive to “welcome the stranger.”

Similarly, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago has criticised reports of mass deportations targeting the Chicago area, describing them as “not only profoundly disturbing but also wound us deeply.”

Cupich, speaking from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Sunday, acknowledged the government's role in border protection but emphasised the importance of defending human dignity.

Woman holds 'Mass deportation rally now!' banner at Trump's rally in 2024.

“Governments have the responsibility to protect borders and communities. But we also are committed to defending the rights of all people, and protecting their human dignity,” he stated.

Pope Francis has made advocacy for migrants a defining feature of his papacy, urging nations to welcome, protect, and integrate them within their capacities.

As Trump prepares to assume office, the debate over immigration policies remains a deeply divisive issue, with the Pope and Catholic leaders continuing to challenge measures they view as unjust.